Indicator for the reproduction of music



June 30, 1925.

C. R. BLUM INDICATOR FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC Filed Jan. 6 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenlar L ZfiabcflBkzm JHar-ney June 30, 1925. 1,544,426

, c. R. BLUM INDICATOR FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ab lq Jilarngf Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES CARL ROBERT BLUM, OF BERLIN-SCHONEBERG, GERMANY.

INDICATOR FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC.

Application filed January 6, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL Roana'r BLUM, a citizen of Germany, residing atBerlin- Schoneberg, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Indicators for the Reproduction of Music, of which thefollowin is a specification.

My invention mates to the reproduction of pieces of music by any desiredmeans, such as the human voice, musical instruments, piano players,grammophones, honographs and the like, and it is an ob ect of myinvention to warrant a reproduction in that particular tempo which ispeculiar to each individual piece of music. Only military and othermarches and many dances have a uniform tempo and all times arereproduced in the same measure. With all other pieces of music, however,the tempo changes more or less often, frequently in the singleconsecutive times, and even within single measures. This very change oftempo is a material characteristic feature of such pieces of music.Their reproduction corresponds to the intention of the composerperfectly only if not only all tones, but also all tempo variations arereproduced in the most exact manner.

To warrant an exact reproduction of all sung and played pieces of musicby the singer or the piano player or the violin player or the conductorof an orchestra, or by piano playing apparatus, grammophones or thelike, I make use of the following means:

1. A band which is unwound from one reel and wound upon another reel andhas the music piece written or rinted upon it in the usual notes and inuninterrupted succession, in such a manner, that the distance betweenthe notes of each single measure and the length of the space occupied byeach measure upon the band with relation to the speed with which theband is moved when a record is made or a recorded piece of music isreproduced) corresponds to the speed with which these notes or measuresare to be reproduced.

2. Means for applying the notes to the band in a. rhythmically correctmanner.

3. A stationary mark past which the band passes and which indicates tothe singer or player or conductor the proper moment at which each noteor measure is to be reproduced.

Serial No. 611,199.

and to unwind it from the same, and to make it travel past thestationary mark either with uniform or with varying speed, but alwayswlth just that speed with which the band had been traveling when therecord was made.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereofseveral devices embodying my invention are illustrated diagrammaticallyby way of example. In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of thenoteband itself with its two reels.

Figure 2 is a like view of the means for causing theband to-travel pastthe stationary mark, and of means for adjusting the traveling speed ofthe band in conformity with the general character of the piece of musicto be played.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of two forms of an apparatus forpreparing the note band. i

Referring to the drawin s, the note band 1 separately illustrated inigure 1 consists of a strip of durable material, such as cardboard,celluloid, linen, or the like, and has its ends wound upon reels 2 and3. The

band has one or several staffs, 4, the single measures of which are notof equal length nor of any desired length, but Whose length isdetermined by the tempo in which they are to be played. Thus, of severalmeasures of a iece of music that which is to be playe with anaccelerated tempo (accelerando) occupies a shorter space than a measurethat is to be played at a slower tempo (ritardando). The notes arespaced apart within the single measure in such a manner that as the bandis traveling along, each note is made to travel past a stationary markat that very moment at which it is to be played or sung. Such a mark5(Figures 2 and 3) is arranged, for instance, in the middle of a frame 6,having an oblon slot, across which the band is made to trave If the bandis moved solely by the 1-0 tation of the reel 2 which pulls it throughthe frame 6, the measures obtain other lengths and the notes are placedat other distances during the inscribing of the notes, that is whilemaking the record, than if the band is uniformly moved past the mark.This is due to the increase of the diameter of the reel while the bandis wound on it, in consequence of which the speed of the band 4. Meansto wind the band upon the reel permanently increases. It is, therefore,

preferable, instead of pulling the band, to employ a uniformly rotatingdevice which engages the hand between the reels.

In the modification shown in Figure 2 a clock-work 9 can be wound up bymeans of a crank 7 and bevel-wheels 8; the clock-work rotates by meansof gear wheels 10 and 11 the spindle 12 of the reel 2 in the directionof the arrow. The reel 2 winds up the band 1 which comes from the reel 3and passes over guide-rolls 13, as well as through the frame 6.

The singer, player, or orchestra-leader, sitting in front of theapparatus, has to pay attention solely to the moment at which thevarious consecutive notes arrive at the mark 5 when the respective noteis to be produced. The general tempo of the respective piece of music isadjusted in correspondance with the tempo regulations prescribed in thegiven case and followed either with the aid of Malzels metronome or ofsome other time beating device, the adjustment being effected by meansof a regulating device 14 (Fig. 2) which cooperates with a scale 15 andinfiuences the speed of the band, for instance by braking or by changingthe ratio of gearing.

The two devices illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 which serve to preparethe music band are distinguished from each other chiefly by the mannerin which they are actuated.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 two writing pens or pencils 50 orthe like are directed towards the front side of the strip upon which anempty staff is printed and which travels across the frame 6. The pens orpencils 50 are guided in bearings 51 and are held out of contact withthe strip by springs 52. Double-[armed key levers 53 permit of pressingthe one or the other pen or pencils against the strip for a shorter orlonger time, and of producing in this way above or below the staff lines54 of different lengths and which resemble Morse writing and correspondto the tempo for the time being. IVhen the piece of music has been takendown in this manner upon the strip in stenography, the strip is removedfrom the device in question and thereafter the true notes are manuallyincribed into the staff at the proper distance from each other.

Referring to the modification shown in Figure 4, the writing pens orpencils 50 are fastened to the cores of solenoids 56 which are excitedfrom distance either by a key 57 or by a contact-producing member 58which may for instance, be gripped by the conductor, as shown, and whichcauses one or the other pen or pencil to be pressed against the strip bymeans of the respective solenoid.

The note band and the devices operating in conformity with thisinvention permit of fulfilling many different purposes.

Thenote band renders valuable services as a means for teaching music inthat it enables the scholar, as well as the instructor or the conductor,to study and reproduce music pieces in exact conformity to the tempoinstructions of the composer. Besides, in connection with automaticmusic apparatus, such, for instance, as grammophones or piano players,the note band renders possible the co-operation of singers or ofinstrument players in perfect synchronism with the tempo of the piece ofmusic the respective apparatus is producing, the singers or musiciansreading theaccompanying music, and reproducing it, by means of the notestraveling past the mark at the rythm of the respective music-producingapparatus.

In connection with cinematogra )hic appanatus the note band permits ofta king the images in the most exact synchronism with the music, theconductor directing the actors according to the indications of the noteband and this latter regulating the feedin of the film, so that the noteband and the film run synchronously during the reproduction, and theparts of the musical film which have been recorded synchronously withthe rhythm are reproduced also in exact synchronism with the rhythm. Onthe other hand, the note band may be prepared also according to therhythm of the finished film and will then warrant exact synchronism ofthe pictures with the music during the reproduction. The note band mayalso replace the prompter.

If the note band is provided with contacts, it may control devices(grammophones or the like) which at certain parts of the music or atcertain pictures produce noises such as explosions, whistles,street-noise, and like, corresponding to the respective scenery.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction or operation described and illustrated inthe drawings, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilledin the art.

I claim 1. A note band comprising a plurality of consecutive notesforming a musical composition having means dividing said notes intomeasures, the said means bein spaced apart in proportion to the tempo ofthe composition.

2. A note band comprising a plurality of consecutive notes formin amusical compo sition having bars dividing said notes into measures, thesaid notes being spaced apart within the measures in proportion to thegariations of tempo occurring within said 3. A note band comprising aplurality of consecutive notes forming a musical com osition and havinga plurality of consecutive bars dividing said notes into measures, thelengths of said measures differing in pro position having means dividingsaid notes into measures, said means being tslpaced apart in proportionto the tempo 0 e composition, and means for moving such band past apredetermined point at uniform speed.

6. A device for preparing a note band com rising means for moving suchband at uni orm speed and manually operable means for marking upon ittransverse marks differently spaced apart in proportion to apredetermined tempo.

7. A device for preparing a note band com rising means for moving suchband at uni orm speed and manually operable electromagnetic means formarking upon it transverse marks differently spaced apart in proportionto a predetermined tempo.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si ature.

CARL ROBERI B UM.

